22 



Itagaki 



Table XVI. — Absolute Alcohol Extraction after Extraction with 



Chloroform and Ether. 



These results can be summarised as follows : — 



(1) Alcohol extract causes as a general rule either diminution or 

 complete inhibition of the uterine contraction. Sometimes, however, its 

 action is negative ; in rare cases it produces increase of tone. 



(2) Locke solution of the extract of the residue of corpus luteum after 

 extraction with alcohol always causes an increase of contraction of the uterus. 



In another series of experiments, extractions were made with alcohol 

 to which a certain amount of water was added, the extractions being 

 begun with absolute alcohol (purchased), the percentage of alcohol being 

 gradually reduced. In this series the same sample of alcohol was used. 

 The following results were obtained : — 



(1) 12.12.15. With absolute alcohol extract. No marked change; if 

 anything, contraction. 



(2) Extract with 98 per cent, alcohol + 2 per cent, water per volume. 

 No marked change : rate of rhythm perhaps somewhat slowed. 



(3) Extract with 96 per cent, alcohol + 4 per cent, water. Inhibition 

 produced. The residue dried and extracted with Locke gave slight 

 contraction. 



Repetitions of these experiments made 31.12.15 and 31.3.16 gave no 

 change with the alcohol extract, and a slight contraction with the residue. 

 Why inhibition was produced on the first occasion with this extract of 

 96 per cent, alcohol + 4 per cent, water, but not subsequently, I am 

 unable to explain. 



(4) Fresh corpus luteum was extracted with absolute alcohol in such 

 a proportion that the resulting extract was one containing about 90 per 

 cent, alcohol. This extract was dried and extracted with Locke solution. 

 Both it and the residue after alcohol extraction produced an increase of 

 tone when its action upon the rat's uterus was investigated (31.10.15). 



